Thousands paused Friday in Los Angeles to pay respect to a fallen hero -- Los Angeles City Firefighter Brent Lovrien. A member of UFLAC Local 112, Lovrien died March 26th in an explosion. A walking procession through downtown Los Angeles brought a sea of blue from the fire service and a line of ordinary citizens paying their respects.
At an emotional memorial held in his fire service hometown of Downey this past Tuesday, CPF Secretary-Treasurer Dallas Jones was remembered as a man who, in his modest but firm way, changed the face of the California fire service and the fire labor movement. Brother Jones, who served sixteen years as president of Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014 as well as five years as state OES Director, died May 10th after battling lung cancer.
It is with the greatest sadness that California Professional Firefighters announces the passing of one of the giants of the firefighter labor movement -- CPF Secretary-Treasurer Dallas Jones. Brother Jones, who served 32 years with Los Angeles County Fire Department and Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014, died Saturday after a valiant battle with lung cancer. Brother Jones served firefighters as president of Local 1014 and CPF Secretary Treasurer, and all Californians as Director of the Office of Emergency Services.
Rejecting all offers of assistance -- including substantial labor concessions, help from the state and from a private financier -- the City of Vallejo filed for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy on Friday, becoming the largest city in California to declare bankruptcy. According to Reuters, city officials have acknowledged that bankruptcy is intended as a tool to give them leverage in labor talks.
California Professional Firefighters and its non-profit California Fire Foundation have launched a statewide campaign, in Spanish and English, on the importance of having and practicing a fire escape plan. "Firefighters On Your Side/Bomberos A Tú Lado" is designed to teach families how to safely evacuate a home that is on fire.